The Hawk: March 25, 2020

March 25, 2020 10:00 pm

Hello IACS Grads, Parents and folks who care about them!

We hope you are all safe and well at this time. With all of the news alerts and COVID-19 updates, we wanted to provide you with some positive alumni stories.

While at home, if you’d like to reach out to share updates about your adventures, experiences and what you’ve been up to since graduating IACS, we’d love to hear from you! Let us know about your accomplishments or a change in email address so that we can congratulate you and share your good news. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Be well,

Ms. Morocco

Sebastian Chavez (Class of 2019)

Sebastian is wrapping up his freshman year at Northeastern University. He was selected to take part in an international trip called "Dialogue of Civilizations." While, due to the current global situation, this trip has been cancelled, it was an honor for him to have been selected and he wanted to share a bit about it with you all regardless.

Through the "Dialogue of Civilizations," students are encouraged to apply to one of several faculty-led excursions all around the world, where they will study different concepts from the classroom in areas where they are most prevalent– much like an elongated, educational Endersession that we get 2 classes worth of credits for! Although the application process was lengthy and the various programs were competitive, I’m extremely proud to have been accepted to a trip to Germany/Poland to study the Holocaust and other genocides. My particular program was scheduled to take place from May 17th – June 17th, and led by professor of political science Natalie Bormann. Our trip was scheduled to take us all around these two countries via train, but notably to Munich, Oswiecim (the town Auschwitz is located in), Nuremburg, and Berlin. Being the only student on the trip with a background in both Political Science and Computer Engineering, one of the more specific roles requested of me by Professor Bormann would require me to analyze the organized and systematic nature of the Holocaust, taking into account the many quantitative factors that were at play during the genocide.

Johnny Passarelli (Class of 2019)

Johnny Passarelli (3rd from left in photograph) joined the U.S. Navy, where he has already traveled to Chicago, Missouri and Texas. Recently a graduate from A school to become a corpsman medic, he will continue his special warfare training for the next three years at Camp Pendleton in San Diego.

Johnny encourages everyone to find their creed, whatever it may be. It should be something that is set in stone, that no one can change. Ultimately, he encourages everyone to, no matter what, always work hard and do it to their best ability.

Melissa Morris (Class of 2015)

I recently graduated from the University of Rhode Island. I’m currently living in Colorado, and I’ve just started the PhD program in the Analytical Chemistry Division at CU Boulder. While I was at URI I worked in an analytical lab, and studied sugar structure using nanopores, which I used to complete an honors thesis senior year. Now that I’m in Colorado, I’m using my analytical background to study atmospheric chemistry; I’ve just joined a research group, and my current project is based on indoor air quality. While getting a PhD is a lot of work, I’m finding time to enjoy the mountains out here both for snowboarding and hiking!

Zachary Pippos (Class of 2015)

Since leaving IACS, I earned my associates degree in liberal arts and sciences, psychology concentration from Middlesex and I’m currently a junior at UMass Lowell working towards my bachelors in psychology. In February 2019, I ran for town meeting office in my old hometown because I wanted to make a difference in my community. I ran to be a representative of my precinct for town meeting. In April, I won the election and during my time, I worked with my colleagues on budgets for Billerica, how we can make the town more environmentally friendly such as led lights on the streets, and one of the best acts my colleagues and I did was we got the town board of selectmen to recognize June as lgbtq pride and civil rights month in the town of Billerica. It was truly a wonderful thing to see for my town. It was a great experience. I am no longer a town meeting rep for Billerica since I moved to Chelmsford but I am still active in politics.

Shannon Comer (Class of 2012)

I graduated from UML with my BSN in 2016. I have been working as a nurse for a little over 3 years now. I worked on a locked psych unit for my first job at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and learned the basics of bedside nursing. From there I transitioned to Beverly Hospital on a med/surg floor where I refined a lot of my nursing skills. I currently work at Beth Israel in Boston. I’ve been there for a little over a year as an RN on the intermediate cardiology floor. It is a very challenging job but I am learning so much and I feel like I am really making a difference in the lives of our patients. Thinking about maybe starting my masters degree to become a nurse practitioner in the next year or two.

Elaini Maeder (Class of 2012)

For a while, I worked at ezCater with Jesse Belanger (Class of 2012). Even though I went to college (UMass Lowell) for business, my job currently is working in Information Technology. I’ve been working at Rapid7 (a software security company) in Boston since April 2019. I’m an Application Support Technician, so typically my day to day includes helping users get the most out of their technology, along with provisioning them access & troubleshooting numerous applications. My primary focus for applications has been working with Salesforce and Netsuite. This upcoming year I’ll have more opportunities to grow within the team, take more certifications & visit more conferences, and I’ll have a chance to travel to some of the other offices we have in the US and overseas!

Carrie Nagle (Class of 2012)

I have a B.A in Public Health from UMass Amherst and a MBA in Healthcare from Suffolk University. I am in love with Public Health and in particular the Lowell Community Health Center, a place where we provide care in over 36 different languages. I am the Program Manager in our Carino Department (HIV Services). I get to focus on patient care and help my staff provide excellent service to people living with HIV and other infectious diseases. This year we are celebrating our 50 Year Anniversary!

Erin Clifford (Class of 2011)

After receiving my bachelor’s degree in psychology from UMass Lowell in 2015, and with encouragement from a couple professors, I decided to pursue a masters degree there, too. This past May 2019, after facing and overcoming the loss of my mom, I finally received my M.S. in autism studies and applied behavior analysis. From there, I applied to sit for an exam to become a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) and passed on the first try. I am currently, and happily, employed at the Valley Collaborative Elementary School in Tyngsboro, where I practice as a BCBA serving a diverse population of students with varying diagnoses and intensive behavioral needs. I credit a lot of my success in higher education through the years to my time at IACS!

Kandace Boutin (Class of 2011)

Kandace Boutin is a graduate of IACS’ inaugural Class of 2011. After graduation Kandace went to Fairfield University for a semester and then transferred to the University of Massachusetts Lowell where she graduated with her degree in Business Administration with a minor in Legal Studies. After graduation Kandace worked for a year and a half in Human Resources before deciding it was not the career path she wanted to follow. In the fall of 2016 Kandace began a position as a Math and Reading Interventionist for Burlington Public Schools. A few months after working in a school it was clear to her that she wanted to return to school and become an elementary school teacher. Kandace was accepted to Northeastern University in the spring of 2017 and began her master’s degree that summer. Kandace remained working for Burlington Public Schools while working toward her degree. In the fall of 2018 Kandace completed her student teaching in a 4th grade classroom and graduated from Northeastern with a Masters of Art in Teaching Elementary Education. She returned to her position as an interventionist for the remainder of the school year. Over the summer of 2019 Kandace spent time interviewing for different elementary teaching positions and ultimately decided on a position teaching 2nd grade for Lunenburg Public Schools. Kandace began her position as a second grade teacher in August of 2019 and could not be happier with her decision to return to school and become an elementary school teacher.

Mark your Calendars – Spring Arts Night – Wednesday, May 27th

Join us for Spring Arts Night and our All-School Concert! There will be music performances by the Middle & High School Choruses, Middle School Band and High School Instrumental Ensemble. Middle School Artwork will be on display throughout the school. Join us for a great evening to celebrate art and music at IACS!

Internship Mentoring

Are you interested in mentoring an IACS intern in a certain field for a few hours a week? Would your company/organization like some (read: free) help, a motivated learner, one who has the same core momentum that you were taught: community membership, self direction, problem solving and effective communication?

Click here if you think you may be interested in being a part of an IACS students journey to finding his/her career path by way of an internship.

We are looking for mentors and welcome ideas for fall 2021. Please let us know if you can help!

Here's how to get in touch with us.

Check out our new "Class of" groups on our Innovation Academy Charter School Alumni Facebook page. Follow us on instagram: @iacsthebestalumni.

72 Tyng Road, Tyngsborough, MA, United States smorocco@innovationcharter.org 978-649-0432 innovationcharter.org

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